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United States Patent |
6,056,223
|
Kirby
|
May 2, 2000
|
Drag mounted spring for spin-cast reels
Abstract
A spool rotational alert spring mounted to a disk drag, for use in a
fishing reel of the spin-cast type, having a body with a fixed hub for
supporting a line carrying spool.
The disk drag supported non-rotatably on the hub is a unitary device that
performs both the function of applying drag pressure against the wall of
the spool and mounting a spool rotational alert spring with its free end
engaging annularly disposed serrations on the wall of the spool, to
produce an audible alarm alerting the user when the line carrying spool
rotates against the disk drag that line is being withdrawn.
Inventors:
|
Kirby; Thomas Glen (304 W. Key West, Broken Arrow, OK 74011)
|
Appl. No.:
|
023004 |
Filed:
|
February 12, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: |
242/306; 242/245; 242/307 |
Intern'l Class: |
A01K 089/00 |
Field of Search: |
242/244,245,296,306,307
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3697011 | Oct., 1972 | Christensen et al. | 242/244.
|
3741493 | Jun., 1973 | Jones | 242/296.
|
4496115 | Jan., 1985 | Kreft et al. | 242/308.
|
4674698 | Jun., 1987 | Carpenter | 242/244.
|
4696437 | Sep., 1987 | Yoshikawa | 242/244.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
9871 | Sep., 1909 | GB | 242/296.
|
Primary Examiner: Walsh; Donald P.
Assistant Examiner: Marcelo; Emmanuel M.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed U.S.
application Ser. No. 08/700,883, filed Aug. 21, 1996, now abandoned.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. In a spin-cast fishing reel comprising:
a reel body, said body having a deck plate, a fixed hub supported by and
projecting forward of said deck plate, a rotatable line carrying spool
supported on said hub, said spool having annulary disposed serrations
about the rearward wall, a non-rotatable disk drag having a forward face,
and said disk drag acts against said rearward wall of said spool as
adjusted by a drag adjusting means, the improvement comprising:
said disk drag having a spool rotational alert spring mounted thereto, and
said spring having a free end, and wherein
said disk drag supported on said hub, and
said free end of said spring having preset pressure against said
serrations, and wherein
said forward face of said disk drag applying drag pressure to said rearward
wall of said spool, and
said preset spring pressure remains constant against said serrations as
drag pressure is increased and decreased.
2. The spin-cast fishing reel as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one
engaging washer is located between said disk drag and said rearward wall
of said spool.
3. In a spin-cast fishing reel comprising:
a reel body, said body having a deck plate, a fixed hub supported by and
projecting forward of said deck plate, a rotatable line carrying spool
supported on said hub, said spool having annulary disposed serrations
about the forward wall, a non-rotatable disk drag having a rearward face,
and said disk drag acts against said forward wall of said spool as
adjusted by a drag adjusting means, the improvement comprising:
said disk drag having a spool rotational alert spring mounted thereto, and
said spring having a free end, and wherein
said disk drag supported on said hub, and
said free end of said spring having preset pressure against said
serrations, and wherein
said rearward face of said disk drag applying drag pressure to said forward
wall of said spool, and
said preset spring pressure remains constant against said serrations as
drag pressure is increased and decreased.
4. The spin-cast fishing reel as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one
engaging washer is located between said disk drag and said forward wall of
said spool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for mounting a spool rotational alert
spring in conjunction with providing drag pressure against the wall of the
spool for spin-cast reels that incorporates serrations on a wall of the
spool. Spin-cast type fishing reels of past and current technology, employ
a front shield or cover over a line carrying spool, whereby rotation of
the spool cannot be visibly detected. The spring member coacts with the
serrations on the spool to provide an audible alarm, alerting the user
that rotation of the spool is occurring and that line is being withdrawn
from the spool. The spring type member is generally assembled with the
deck plate, body, or formed rigidly with a drag adjusting plate or spool
retainer. In these arrangements the spring member in allowing for
variations in dimension between the deck plate and spool becomes
unnecessarily complicated to manufacture, and is often damaged if the
spool is reversely rotated, and generally cannot be used interchangeably
with different reels. Different means have been disclosed in the prior art
of mounting spring type members. These are exemplified in part in the
disclosures of Young et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,896; Hull in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,416,746; Shackelford et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,914; and Kreft et
al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,115. While it is apparent that each of these
examples of the prior art possess merit, none have addressed the problem
that the present invention is expressly intended to solve. This applicant
regrets that he is unable to provide examples of prior art which relate
more directly to the subject matter of the present invention; however, a
diligent search of the art has failed to reveal examples of the technology
herein disclosed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a unitary non-rotatable disk drag that
performs a dual function of providing drag pressure against the wall of a
line carrying spool as well as mounting a spool rotational alert spring
with its free end engageable with annularly disposed serrations on the
wall of the spool, whereby upon rotation of the spool an audible alarm is
produced to alert the user that line is being withdrawn from the spool.
The disk drag and spool rotational spring, in accordance with the present
invention, can be manufactured as separate pieces and later assembled, or
integrally formed as a one piece member. The free end of the spring can
project through an opening in the disk drag and engage the serrations on
the spool, permitting the disk drag to have a diameter greater than that
of the spool serrations. The spring is mounted to the disk drag with the
free end of the spring preset to provide desired pressure against the
spool serrations. With the spring mounted to the disk drag, preset spring
pressure against the spool serrations remains constant as drag pressure is
increased and decreased, thereby eliminating damage to the spring if
reverse rotation of the spool occurs. The disk drag and spring assembly,
being interchangeable from the back to the front of the spool, can be
combined with a conventional drag means or combined with a second disk
drag and spring. The disk drag and spool rotational alert spring assembly
which is accessorial in nature for reels of current and future manufacture
as tooling changes to the body, deck plate, drag adjusting plate, or spool
retainer are not necessary with this invention. This disk drag and spring
assembly can also be use with my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,193 further
illustrating the versatility of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmented vertical section through a spin-cast style fishing
reel incorporating the invention.
FIG. 2 is a fragmented section on an enlarged scale, of that portion of the
reel incorporating the preferred embodiment of the disk drag mounted
spring.
FIG. 3 is a back view of disk drag mounted spring partially broken away to
expose the invention as engaged with a spool.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a first alternate embodiment of the
disk drag and spring which may be employed in the reel of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternate embodiment of the
disk drag and spring which may be employed in the reel of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third alternate embodiment of the
disk drag and spring which may be employed in the reel of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth alternate embodiment of the
disk drag and spring which may be employed in the reel of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is a view of the disk drag and spring with an alternate design which
may be employed in the reel of FIG. 1.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1, shows a spin-cast
style fishing reel, generally designated 10, a reel embodying the
principles of this invention. The reel includes a front shield 17, a line
guide 16, and is mounted detachably on the outer periphery of the body 25,
a mounting foot 20 for attachment of the reel to a fishing rod. The body
25 having a deck plate 27, attached to or formed as part of the deck plate
27 is a fixed hub 26 projecting forward of the deck plate 27, and the hub
26 having a key-way, spline or the like (not shown). A line carrying spool
11 is supported on the hub 26 for maintaining a supply of fishing line 30.
The spool 11 normally having serrations arranged annularly about the
surface of the rearward wall 23 or forward wall 12 or both. A removable
retainer 14 on the hub 26, axially positions the spool 11 between drag
means adjacent a drag adjusting plate 21. A drag adjusting mechanism 18
increases and decreases pressure on the drag adjusting plate 21. A
rotatable center shaft 24 extends axially through the hub 26. A rotor 15
is secured by a nut 29 to the forward end of the center shaft 24 and at
least partially longitudinally overlaps the forward wall 12 of the spool
11 best seen in FIG. 1. The center shaft 24 is attached at the rear to a
gearing mechanism (not shown) which is in turn attached to a hand crank
(not shown). The hand crank through the gearing mechanism, may be rotated
to turn the rotor 15, this action causes a line engaging means 19 to
extend outward for winding line onto the spool 11. Line 30 withdrawn
causes an anti-reverse mechanism (not shown) to engage, preventing the
rotor 15 from reversing directions; this action causes line 30 to be drawn
over the rotor 15 whereby the normally non-rotatable spool 11 rotates
against adjustable drag pressure applied to its rearward wall 23 and
forward wall 12 by combined drag means to prevent line 30 breakage. All
elements described to this point in this detailed description; that is,
elements 10-34, are typical of commercially available spin-cast fishing
reels. In these typical fishing reels, the spool serrations are engaged by
a spring member (not-shown) to produce an audible alarm when the spool 11
rotates against the combined drag means as line 30 is withdrawn. These
spring members are generally mounted to the drag adjusting plate 21, body
25, or the deck plate 27, whereby spring members become difficult to
interchange with different reels. In these typical spin-cast reels, spring
pressure against the spool serrations is unpredictable, whereby the
audible alarm changes as drag pressure against the spool is increased and
decreased, and reverse rotation of the spool can possibly damage the
spring member.
Referring to the drawings, it will be readily seen that the present
invention offers a simple solution to the aforementioned problems through
the provision of a disk drag 40. The disk drag may be formed of different
materials, including plastic, metal, or a combination thereof, a material
which is compatible with the drag action desired. The disk drag is
conventionally configured for non-rotatable support on the hub 26, and has
means for mounting a spool rotational alert spring 50 thereto, with the
free end 70 of the spring 50 preset, engaging the spool serrations 32. The
spring may be formed of different materials, including plastic, metal, or
a combination thereof, a material that provides the spring action and
audible alarm desired. In the illustrated arrangement of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2
the disk drag 40 having a forward face 42 and a rearward face 43 is
non-rotatably supported on the hub 26 with its rearward face 43 adjacent
the drag adjusting plate 21; the forward face 42 engaging the rearward
wall 23 of the line 30 carrying spool 11 rotatably supported on the hub
26. The disk drag 40 having a spool rotational alert spring 50
conventionally mounted thereto with the free end 70 of the spring engaging
serrations 32 on the rearward wall 23 of the spool 11. A removable
retainer 14 on the hub 26 axially positioning a non-rotatable second disk
drag 40A having a forward face 45 and a rearward face 46 with its rearward
face 46 against the forward wall 12 of the spool 11. Said second disk drag
40A having a second spool rotational alert spring 51 conventionally
mounted thereto with the free end 71 of the spring engaging serrations 34
on the forward wall 12 of the spool 11. Combined disk drags 40 and 40A
applying drag pressure against the walls of the spool as adjusted by the
drag adjusting mechanism 18. The spool rotates against combined disk
drags, and serrations rotate against the free ends 70 and 71 of combined
springs 50 and 51 as line 30 carried on the spool 11 is pulled therefrom,
providing an audible alarm alerting the user that line is being withdrawn.
FIG. 3 is a back view of the disk drag 40 partially broken away to expose
the invention as engaged with the spool 11; the spring 50 is
conventionally mounted 72 to the disk drag 40, whereby the free end 70
engages the spool serrations 32. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it can be seen
that the free end 70 of the spring 50 extends through an opening 80 in the
disk drag 40 permitting disk drag engagement against the spool 11 beyond
the spool serrations 32 thereby giving the designer a drag surface equal
to or less than the diameter of the spool 11 from which to choose the drag
action desired.
FIG. 4 shows a first alternate embodiment with the forward face 42 of the
disk drag 40 engaging the rearward wall 23 of the spool 11, and said disk
drag 40 having a spool rotational alert spring 50 mounted thereto, with
the free end 70 of the spring 50 engaging the serrations 32 on the
rearward wall of the spool; a removable retainer 14 on the hub 26 axially
positioning a conventional drag means against the forward wall 12 of the
spool 11, permits the disk drag 40 to act against the spool 11 as adjusted
by the drag adjusting mechanism 18. The disk drag 40 applying drag
pressure to the rearward wall 23 of the spool 11 as the spool rotates
against the disk drag 40, and the serrations 32 rotate against the free
end 70 of the spring 50 as line 30 carried on the spool 11 is pulled
therefrom to produce an audible alarm, alerting the user that line 30 is
being withdrawn from the spool 11.
FIG. 5 shows a second alternate embodiment of disk drag 40 and spring 50.
The disk drag and spring are mounted in the same way as the disk drag and
spring of FIG. 4 but provide for at least one engaging washer 64 located
between the disk drag 40 and rearward wall 23 of the spool 11 for a
different drag characteristic.
FIG. 6 shows a third alternate embodiment with the rearward face 46 of the
disk drag 40A engaging the forward wall 12 of the spool 11, and said disk
drag 40A having a spool rotational alert spring 51 mounted thereto, with
the free end 71 of the spring 51 engaging the serrations 34 on the forward
wall of the spool; a removable retainer 14 on the hub 26 axially
positioning a conventional drag means against the rearward wall 23 of the
spool 11, permits the disk drag 40A to act against the spool 11 as
adjusted by the drag adjusting mechanism 18. The disk drag 40A applying
drag pressure to the forward wall 12 of the spool 11 as the spool rotates
against the disk drag 40A, and the serrations 34 rotate against the free
end 71 of the spring 51 as line 30 carried on the spool 11 is pulled
therefrom to produce an audible alarm, alerting the user that line 30 is
being withdrawn from the spool 11.
FIG. 7 shows a fourth alternate embodiment of disk drag 40A and spring 51.
The disk drag and spring are mounted in the same way as the disk drag and
spring of FIG. 6 but provide for at least one engaging washer 63 located
between the disk drag 40A and forward wall 12 of the spool 11 for a
different drag characteristic.
The disk drag 40B of FIG. 8 is supported in the same way as the disk drags
of FIG. 1, but provides a different drag characteristic with a different
arrangement of mounting the spring 52 to the disk drag 40B whereby the
free end 73 of the spring 52 engages the spool serrations 32; a view of
the integrally formed disk drag and spring as a one piece member,
illustrating that generally the disk drag and spring are determined by
economy of manufacture.
While there has hereinabove been disclosed, described and depicted the
currently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be
understood that such was done for purposes of explanation and elucidation
only and that certain changes, modifications, additions, deletions and
improvements may be made thereto, within the scope of the claims
hereinunder appended.
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